• Stick to the basics when breaking a fast.Fruit salad in hollow watermelon and fruits image by Elzbieta Sekowska from Fotolia.com
  
  After a fast---whether a juice fast or a water fast---you don't want to shock your body by eating heavy foods like pasta, pizza, or meat. Though it can be tempting to stuff yourself with some of your favorite foods, remember that your digestive system hasn't been working hard during your fast, so if you eat something high in fat or calories, you'll end up with a stomache. Instead, stick with foods that are light and small. This eases your body back into digestion.
  
  

Fruits

• Fruits are light and make an ideal first meal for breaking your fast. Some people prefer to stick with just one type of fruit, while others may make a fruit salad. Depending on how long you fasted, you may want to eat nothing but fruits for two or three days as you are breaking the fast. If you were doing a water fast, consider starting with just fruit juice.
  
  

Leafy Greens

• Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce are very light and easy to digest. Rather than eating a full salad---with tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, for example---you can eat a bowl of these greens. Take care not to use a heavy dressing on your first salad. A ranch dressing could hurt your stomach. Instead, stick with a simple vinegar-based dressing, if any at all.
  
  

Raw Vegetables

• Raw vegetables can act as a broom, brushing out anything that's left in your digestive system. Munch on baby carrots or cucumbers as either a meal or a snack after your fast.
  
  

Soup

• If you're not sure that you're ready for the chewing involved in eating raw vegetables and fruits, consider a soup. Use a soup that's made with vegetable broth and no added salt. Try just the broth or add a few vegetables.
  
  

Whole Grains

• Once you're ready to return to regular eating, you should stick to whole grains. These are healthier than processed ones and with your digestive system cleared of any toxins, you'll be ready to start filling your body with only healthy foods.